Job summary
- Main area
- Medical Examiner
- Grade
- NHS Medical & Dental: Consultant
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Part time - 0.5 session per week (4 hour PA every second Thursday afternoon)
- Job ref
- 297-6979942
- Employer
- Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Queen Elizabeth Hospital
- Town
- Gateshead
- Closing
- 12/03/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Medical Examiner
NHS Medical & Dental: Consultant
In the event of excessive applications being received this vacancy may close earlier than the stated closing date, you are encouraged to submit your application as soon as possibleÌýÌý
IMPORTANT NOTE ON COMPLETION OF REFERENCE SECTION OF APPLICATION FORM
All references from current and previous employers will be sought and MUST cover a minimum of 3 years employment. Therefore, when completing the reference section of your application form, please give the address, telephone number and work email address of each of your current/previous line managers that cover 3 years employment. Where possible this should be from two separate employers. Failure to complete this section may result in your application not being processed.
PLEASE NOTEÌýit is a requirement of this Trust that all successful applicants pay for their DBS certificate if a check is required for the post. This will be done through deduction from your monthly pay over a maximum of three months. It is also a requirement that all successful applicants registerÌý or are registered with the DBS update service where a DBS is required.Ìý
All new entrants to the NHS will be appointed on the minimum of the pay scale in line with Terms & Conditions.
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Job overview
We are pleased to announce an opportunity to join the Medical Examiner team, based at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead, providing a Medical Examiner service covering the Gateshead hospital and community area.
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There is 2 vacancies for 0.5 PA (4 hours alternate weeks) predominantly delivered on Thursday afternoons, with the proviso of some flexibility to cover service requirements due to annual leave.
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There may be a limited on-call rota for weekend cover required in the future.
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These posts are open to doctors from any specialty or clinical background, whether working in hospital, community or elsewhere, who have a minimum of 5 years of post GMC registration clinical experience, and specialty qualifications. Training is provided via the Royal College of Pathologists following appointment.
Main duties of the job
Ensure compliance with the legal and procedural requirements associated with the current processes of certification, investigation (by coroners) and registration of deaths within the Local Authority area.
Working for our organisation
The Medical Examiner service consists currently of a Lead Medical Examiner, 8 Medical Examiners, and four Medical Examiner Officers. New Medical Examiners will be supported by the Lead Medical Examiner.
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The Medical Examiner service has been running at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital since September 2020, 5 days a week, excluding Bank Holidays, scrutinising all deaths in Gateshead, other than those directly referred to the coroner. This post is to replace a medical examiner who is standing down.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý
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The Medical Examiner role will appeal to doctors who are passionate about quality improvement, learning from events, improving care for patients and experiences for relatives, and supporting junior doctors in training. It requires a broad knowledge of medicine, good analytical and IT skills, and integrity.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
- Support those doctors who call for medical advice on suspected natural causes of death before they prepare an MCCD, and provide general medical advice to the coroner;
- Scrutinise the certified causes of all in-scope deaths in a way that is compliant with the law and national guidance;
- Maintain proportionate records of all deaths scrutinised and undertake analysis and provide information as required to ONS & locally for clinical governance purposes;
- Work with the other medical examiners in the QEH ME office to arrange reciprocal cover for holidays and other periods of absence and also to ensure that there is no potential conflict of interest between the medical examiner and the death being scrutinised;
- Explain to bereaved relatives the cause of death in a transparent, tactful and sympathetic manner which respects different faith, cultural, ethnic and diversity considerations;
- Support the training of junior doctors in completion of MCCDs and provide feedback on accuracy of certification locally if required.
Person specification
Professional Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Full GMC registration with a licence to practice in the UK with at least 5 years’ of GMC registered experience (whole time equivalent)
Desirable criteria
- Inclusion on the Specialist or General Practice register.
- Membership of relevant Colleges
Professional Training
Essential criteria
- Royal college or other post-graduate qualification
Desirable criteria
- Completion of E-learning for Healthcare Medical Examiner modules.
Clincial Experience
Essential criteria
- 5 years whole time equivalent of working in clinical practice in the UK post GMC registration
Communication skills
Essential criteria
- Ability to communicate clearly and empathically with bereaved families in a way they will understand.
- Ability to communicate clearly (spoken and electronic) with colleagues, attending doctors and other relevant contacts.
Teaching
Essential criteria
- Evidence of formal and informal contributions to teaching and training.
Clinical Governance and audit
Essential criteria
- Evidence of participation in quality improvement activity.
Desirable criteria
- Experience of using mortality reviews or clinical incident investigations to share learning and improve delivery of care.
Personal Attributes
Essential criteria
- Evidence of commitment to continuing professional development
Organisational and Management
Essential criteria
- Track-record of good IT skills, the ability to use digital information systems.
- Track-record of good analytical skills to assimilate information from multiple sources in a timely manner
- Good time management skills, ability to multitask and to prioritise tasks in limited time.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post will require a submission for Disclosure to be made to check for any unspent criminal convictions.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Vanessa Linnett
- Job title
- Lead Medical Examiner
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0191 4455849
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